MINISTER ZULU’S COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVE: EMPOWERING EASTERN CAPE COMMUNITIES

• Minister Lindiwe Zulu of the Department of Social Development will lead a community outreach programme in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Eastern Cape.
• The programme will include donations of a mobile office facility to the Ihlumelo Foundation and various resources to enhance education and water accessibility in the community.
• Additionally, financial support will be extended to the local NPO Isithembiso Multi-Purpose Organisation, and recreational opportunities will be bolstered with a donation to a local boxing club.

The Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, will spearhead a community outreach programme in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, located in the Eastern Cape on Friday, April 19th.

The initiative kicks off with the delivery of a mobile office facility to the Ihlumelo Foundation, a youth organisation situated in Duncan Village. This Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) serves as a haven for learners after school, offering a secure and stimulating environment while their parents are still at work.

Under the foundation’s care, learners receive assistance with homework, support with school projects, and a nourishing meal before heading home. Additionally, the Ihlumelo Foundation conducts educational and preventive programmes focusing on issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence. The foundation operates from a facility generously donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

As part of the outreach, Minister Zulu will unveil the Ncera Information Resource Centre, alongside a borehole, water storage tanks, and a solar-powered water pump, all donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This centre includes a community library, contributed by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), and laptops sponsored by the MTN Foundation, enhancing access to educational resources for surrounding villages.

During the public engagement session, Minister Zulu will present a cheque from the National Development Agency (NDA), an entity of the Department of Social Development, to the Isithembiso Multi-Purpose Organisation. This local NPO focuses on women-led agricultural and sustainable livelihood projects, empowering women in the community.

Joining the outreach programme will be the Eastern Cape MEC of Social Development, Ms Bukiwe Fanta, as well as the MEC of Public Works and Infrastructure, Ms Ntombovuyo Nkopane. Additionally, the Executive Mayor of the Buffalo City Municipality and Cllr Princess Faku will contribute by donating a boxing ring to a local boxing club, enriching recreational opportunities for the community.